ISWI Chapter 1046-1047 (Patreon)

Chapter 1046: Offer Herself? Dream On!

Wang Xuanji was truly anxious now. Failing to restore her spiritual root was already despairing enough, but the thought of being unable to return to the immortal realm and being forced to remain in this barren lower world was even more unbearable.

As their group flew toward the Great Yan Continent, she finally could not hold back any longer. Filled with anxiety, she spoke to Ye Chen, "Fellow Daoist Ye, you promised me earlier that you would give me a slot to enter the immortal realm.”

Ye Chen was twirling the Alkaid Holy Maiden's hair around his finger. He raised an eyebrow. "Did I?”

Wang Xuanji grew even more anxious, her hands trembling. "Of course you did! Back at the Heavenly Evolution Holy Land!”

Ye Chen thought for a moment before shaking his head with a trace of apology. "It seems I did say something like that. However, there's nothing I can do. There are only so many ascension slots. I have to prioritize my dao companions first. Otherwise, I would be letting them down.”

Wang Xuanji's fists tightened. Whether he let them down or not was none of her concern. He could not let her down!

At this moment, she no longer cared about the World Tree. She only wanted to go home. Swallowing her pride, she spoke in a low voice, "Fellow Daoist Ye, could you adjust the list and leave one slot for me? The Wang Clan will definitely repay you generously in the future. For example, we can gift you a top-grade immortal artifact. You can raise any other conditions you want as well.”

To her disappointment, Ye Chen waved his hand. "I cannot break my word to my dao companions. Fairy Wang, please don't mention this again.”

Wang Xuanji snapped, "You are the one breaking your word!”

Ye Chen remained calm. "If you want to see it that way, I have nothing to say.”

With that, he urged the carriage forward and sped away, leaving Wang Xuanji standing in place with ice-cold limbs.

Along the entire journey, Ye Chen had been warm and attentive to every female cultivator, yet he remained cold and distant toward her, rejecting her at every turn. She could not understand it, no matter how hard she tried. She was top-tier in every aspect. Even Yi Qingwu, Yan Ruyu, and Manjusaka, as outstanding as they were, still fell slightly short compared to her.

So…

Wang Xuanji narrowed her eyes. She recalled that Ye Chen spent roughly a month with each woman. The Western Empress Holy Carriage carrying the Alkaid Holy Maiden would stop and start frequently, clearly because Ye Chen would act on his desires whenever the mood struck him. She also remembered how excited he had been upon seeing the immortal corpse and how he had sought a soul to use it as a body.

Therefore, it was impossible for him to have no interest in her. Was he deliberately playing hard to get? Did he want her to offer herself, so he kept dangling her on purpose, waiting for her to take the initiative?

At this thought, Wang Xuanji's fists clenched even tighter. She was a heavenly genius of an Immortal King clan. Her earlier mention of letting him marry into the Wang Clan had been nothing more than casual words. Yet this lower-realm native actually dared to have designs on her? With his current Quasi-Immortal cultivation, no matter how high his talent, how could he be worthy of becoming her Dao companion?

But remembering his indifferent attitude, Wang Xuanji gritted her teeth. A fierce glint flashed in her eyes. She could give him a little taste of sweetness. If it meant obtaining the World Tree, offering herself was not entirely out of the question. His behavior disgusted her anyway. Once she got what she wanted, she would absolutely not bring him to the immortal realm. No one there would ever know what had happened. She would simply treat it as being bitten by a dog.

Wang Xuanji stood in place for a long time. Finally, having made up her mind, she shot forward in pursuit.

…

Upon returning to the Great Yan Continent, Ye Chen's first stop was naturally his master. Since Yao Xi had already returned, it was time to bring his master back as well.

However, while they were still above the Endless Sea, Wang Xuanji blocked their path. She shot a cold glance at the Alkaid Holy Maiden, signaling for her to wait below first. She did not want a second person to hear what she was about to say.

The Alkaid Holy Maiden felt a little guilty facing the immortal realm's female genius, but she still turned to look at Ye Chen.

Ye Chen smiled inwardly. Wang Xuanji had finally reached her limit. He shook his head and pulled the Alkaid Holy Maiden into his arms. "If Fairy Wang has something to say, then say it. The Alkaid Holy Maiden is not an outsider to me.”

Joy bloomed across the Alkaid Holy Maiden's face.

Wang Xuanji gnashed her teeth inwardly. She had not wanted outsiders to hear her lowering herself to negotiate with Ye Chen. But his attitude was too firm. Suppressing her overwhelming shame, she lowered her head and said, "If I am willing to give myself to Fellow Daoist Ye, would you be willing to gift me the World Tree after you defeat the Eight-Crowned King, so I can restore my spiritual root?”

The Alkaid Holy Maiden's eyes widened in shock. The World Tree was a priceless treasure, yet this woman thought offering her body was enough to exchange for it? How absurdly arrogant.

Ye Chen was amused. The proud immortal realm female genius had finally been forced to offer her body for resources. She was almost at her limit. He needed to push her into complete despair before giving her a sliver of hope. The feedback would surely be massive.

Even so, he kept his tone cold and indifferent. "Fairy Wang, you must be joking. How could I be that kind of person? ‘The tallest tree catches the wind.' There are many false rumors slandering me outside. It seems Fairy Yan was misled by them. Please do not mention this again.”

With those words, the Western Empress Holy Carriage rose into the air, circled around Wang Xuanji, and sped away, leaving her standing frozen in place. Her cherry lips were pressed tightly together as her entire body trembled with rage.

You're not that kind of person? Rumors slandering you? Did she look blind these past few months? But Ye Chen had actually refused her? Why?

Wang Xuanji's mind spun rapidly. Soon, her eyes widened as she realized the truth. Ye Chen could not possibly be uninterested in her. He simply thought her offer was not enough. He wanted her body but refused to pay with the World Tree. How utterly shameless.

She trembled with fury, but she had no other choice. If she could not obtain the World Tree, she at least had to secure a way back to the immortal realm. As long as she could return, she would never forgive Ye Chen for humiliating her like this. She would make him pay dearly for forcing her to offer herself.

Burning with rage, Wang Xuanji chased after him once more. She blocked his path again and spoke through gritted teeth, suppressing her fury. "I am willing to exchange my pure and untouched body for a slot to enter the immortal realm. But you must swear a heavenly oath and establish a formal contract!”

Her voice was icy.

The Alkaid Holy Maiden nearly laughed. This woman had flown here with eyes high above her head, never once deigning to look at her properly. Yet now, for the sake of a single ascension slot, she was offering herself. So much for immortal realm geniuses.

Wang Xuanji believed Ye Chen would finally agree this time. However…

Ye Chen remained indifferent. "I have many Dao companions, and the ascension slots are already not enough to go around. I've been troubled over how to distribute them. Under these circumstances, how could I possibly spare one for an outsider? Fairy Wang, please stop mentioning this matter.”

The Western Empress Holy Carriage departed once again.

Wang Xuanji felt as if she had been struck by lightning. She was a heavenly genius, the daughter of an Immortal King clan, a goddess countless immortal realm geniuses dreamed of. Yet when she offered her pure body in exchange for a single slot back to the immortal realm, she was rejected?

What exactly did Ye Chen want? Could he truly be uninterested in her?

She raised her hand and conjured a water mirror. Looking at her reflection—the peerlessly beautiful face framed by azure robes, her graceful figure, and the flush of shame and anger on her cheeks—she could not understand. How could any man possibly be uninterested in her?

Chapter 1047: Ye Chen Wants It for Free?

Wang Xuanji could not accept this. She quickly reached a conclusion: Ye Chen wanted her for free. He wanted to enjoy her without paying any price. But how could she be so foolish? If she could not return to the immortal realm, she would never let any lower-realm man touch her. They were not worthy.

Gritting her teeth, Wang Xuanji stared fixedly in the direction Ye Chen had left. After finally gathering the courage to make her offer, only to be repeatedly rejected, she no longer wanted to chase after him. Yet she was unwilling to give up and still held onto a sliver of hope.

She soon made up her mind. From now on, she would remain cold and distant. She would no longer take the initiative. Given Ye Chen's obvious fondness for women, with a fragrant heavenly genius like herself right beside him, it was only a matter of time before he could no longer hold back. Once he lost control, he would have to pay the price.

With this thought, Wang Xuanji chased after him with renewed determination.

In the following days, she remained icy and aloof, no longer trying to board the immortal carriage as she had before.

Ye Chen, with his vast experience, naturally saw through her intentions and smiled lightly. The timing was almost perfect. After picking up his master, he would head to the Heavenly Desire Sect and then settle everything with the Eight-Crowned King.

…

When Ye Chen arrived at the Sword Sect, the entire sect was shaken. Countless disciples rushed out to watch. Years ago, when he had come to help Gu Yunyun compete for the position of sect master, he had only been at the Nascent Soul realm. Even the Heavenly Intention Holy Son had needed Hua Yunfei to stop him. Now, upon his return, the Heavenly Intention Holy Son had long turned to dust, while Ye Chen had become one of the strongest experts in the world. The dramatic change left everyone deeply moved.

After exchanging a few pleasantries, Ye Chen went straight to his master.

So many years had passed, yet Gu Yunyun still favored red robes. With maturity, her originally cold demeanor now carried a subtle wifely charm. Her figure had grown even more impressive.

Seeing Ye Chen, a flash of surprise crossed Gu Yunyun's face before she quickly hid it. "Rebellious disciple, what are you doing here?”

Ye Chen smiled. "Your disciple is about to ascend to immortality. I've come to bring Master back with me so we can enter the immortal realm together.”

Gu Yunyun turned her head away. "You have so many beautiful women. There definitely won't be enough slots. I, your master, won't go.”

Ye Chen raised an eyebrow. He could sense the emotion behind her words. It seemed she was upset that he had not visited her for so long. This was a good sign.

He stepped forward proactively, using his great power to envelop her as he spoke softly, "Master is unique to me. No matter how many female cultivators there are in the entire cultivation world, none can compare to you. If Master doesn't come, what meaning would my ascension have?”

The moment he said this, Gu Yunyun's beautiful face flushed red. Her body softened. She glared at him. "Rebellious disciple, are you trying to bully your master again? I never should have gone to Azure Cloud City to take you as my disciple…”

Ye Chen smiled as he looked at his master. "But Master, why aren't you resisting?”

Gu Yunyun lowered her head, avoiding his gaze. "You're already a Quasi-Immortal. How could a mere Great Saint like me possibly resist you?”

Over the years, Ye Chen had naturally ensured his master received her share of good things. Even when he could not come personally, he had others deliver them. Gu Yunyun had already reached the Great Saint realm.

Ye Chen chuckled. "Master, don't overthink it. You were good to me back then, so of course I want to repay you now. Just treat it as a filial son taking care of his mother… Master, I'm back…”

…

Ye Chen's feelings for his master were special. She was the female cultivator who had left the deepest impression on him when he was still weak—the one who best matched his ideal of a true immortal fairy. Her influence on him was difficult for anyone else to match. He had originally planned to stay for only a month, but he ended up staying two and a half months before preparing to leave.

Outside the Sword Sect gates, Ye Chen frowned. "Master, you really won't come back with me?”

Gu Yunyun shook her head gently, her red robes clinging to her figure. "No. Let's talk about it after you ascend.”

She still carried her own burdens. As Ye Chen's master, she felt awkward about standing alongside his other dao companions.

Ye Chen thought for a moment and did not insist. He would bring her with him when it was time to ascend. Before leaving, however, he made a promise with his master: once he finished his current affairs, they would return to Green Cloud Sect together.

That was where their story had begun—the fairy practicing by the peach-blossom-scented stream, the storytelling old sect master who was still alive. Everything felt as if it had happened only yesterday.

After bidding farewell to his master, Ye Chen steered the immortal carriage toward the Heavenly Desire Sect. This was the final stop on his journey of delays. He was looking forward to the five-generation combined ability of the Heavenly Desire Sect. He wondered whether they could give him a pleasant surprise and completely devour him. Along the way, anticipation filled him.

Wang Xuanji's expression, however, remained ugly. She had tried to compete with Ye Chen in patience, but he truly seemed indifferent toward her. He had stayed with his master for two and a half months without emerging. The moment he came out, he did not even glance at her before heading straight for the Heavenly Desire Sect.

Just how full was Ye Chen's life? If he rotated through all his women and spent a month with each, it would take one or two years. He probably did not lack her at all.

The courage Wang Xuanji had finally mustered drained away like a receding tide, replaced by unease. Could it be that Ye Chen was not pretending? Did he truly feel he already had enough and did not want any more?

If that was the case, then even if she threw herself at him, it would be useless. She still would not be able to return to the immortal realm.

A wave of sorrow washed over her as she envisioned her own tragic end. She recalled her life: she had once stood on the verge of becoming an Immortal King and had already reached the eighth-heaven Saint Immortal realm.

Yet after her spiritual root was excavated, her cultivation regressed all the way to Quasi-Immortal. She had come to the cultivation world hoping to restore her spiritual root. Since she had already cultivated once before, she should have easily re-comprehended the laws and returned to eighth-heaven True Immortal.

Instead, she could not even return to the immortal realm now. She was truly too miserable.

…

By the time they arrived at the Heavenly Desire Sect, Wang Xuanji looked somewhat dazed and lost.

Ye Chen felt satisfied but paid her little attention. The next gift was the most important one before his ascension. After this, his strength would advance another major step. With only half a year left until the Immortal Qi emerged, the timing was perfect.

When Ye Chen arrived, the five generations of the Heavenly Desire Sect stood inside the main hall. Their faces showed traces of anxiety. Because Ye Chen had been gone so long and the Eight-Crowned King was so powerful, they had begun to worry he would not come to help them with their final transformation.

All five women present, except for the loli Ancestor, had reached early-stage Great Saint realm. In the past, they had no choice and thus held no expectations. But things were different now. The continuous perfect transformations had given them a taste of true power. They wanted to complete the final step and condense the Heavenly Desire Immortal Body.

However, Fan Qinghe hesitated. This matter concerned Ye Chen's ascension. She felt she should not keep delaying him any longer.